Contraceptive Pills: All You Need to Know

First, the contraceptive pill is prescribed to women of childbearing age. It allows couples to have children only when they want to, and thus avoid unwanted surprises if you know what I mean. In addition, using the pill has many other benefits:

It reduces pain during menstruation, regulates the menstrual cycle.
It prevents anemia thanks to its iron tablets, and reduces the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer, allows a rapid return to fertility, better plan your life.
And above all, it erases the fear of pregnancy with every sexual intercourse.

In short, you lose nothing using the pill; on the contrary, you have everything to gain!

Who can use the contraceptive pill?

It is recommended to all those who can procreate and who have begun or will begin their sexual life. In all cases, it is strongly advised to see your doctor before starting so that he can prescribe the contraceptive pill that you need because there are different types, and each one of us does not necessarily react The same way depending on the type of pill.

Who can not?

Unfortunately, yes, some of us can not use it:

Who are pregnant or within the first three weeks after giving birth.
Complicated diabetes or breast cancer
High blood pressure, heart or liver disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding
Breastfeeding an infant under six months of age
Who are over 35 and smoke, which are under certain drugs such as rifampicin, barbiturates, anticonvulsants.

How does contraception work?

There are two types of pills, both based on synthetic formulas of progesterone and testosterone hormones – are close to 100% efficiency if adequately used. The first type has progesterone, the female sex hormone, and the other is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, These hormones prevent pregnancy in different ways. “Progesterone thickens the cervical mucus, which then becomes an obstacle to sperm, and slows down the movement of the fallopian tubes so that the egg and sperm have difficulty joining.” It also makes the uterine wall hostile to implantation. The egg can not cling to a thin uterine lining – it needs a quiet and cozy place to set up. Estrogen inhibits contraception by suppressing the hormone responsible for ovulation.

How long does it take before the contraceptive pill works?

“Some contraceptive pills work after only 72 hours while others need five days to run”. For more safety, I tell my patients to use a condom during the first week.

When should you take the contraceptive pill?

This is different for each type, “Progesterone contraceptive pills should be taken every day at the same time. Otherwise, your cervical mucus will start to thin, and you could get pregnant”. You can take combined contraceptives at any time of the day, but taking them at the same time will increase the habit. Many women find it easier to leave their box of contraceptives next to the toothbrush to get into the habit of swallowing them while brushing their teeth. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on when to take the pill.

What happens if I forget to take the contraceptive pill?

“Take it as soon as you see it or take it two the next day, and if you forget it two days in a row, it could be the time to think about a permanent, long-lasting method of contraception, which does not need you to rely on your memory. In the meantime, use condoms until you have another contraceptive method in place.

What is the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill?

“There are two answers to the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill.” In clinical trials or when women adhere to the dosage to the letter, efficacy approaches 100%. But when we take into account the vagaries of life, this efficiency is rather 91%. This means that 9 out of 10 women who take the pill get pregnant every year because it is hard to remember to take it every day. “

What can alter the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill?

Some antibiotics, antifungal medications, and other drugs containing so-called natural ingredients can affect the proper functioning of a contraceptive. “Whenever you have been prescribed medication or start taking a new supplement, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are any possible interactions between the medication and the contraceptive you are taking and, if so. If you have a gastrointestinal and you are taking vomiting or diarrhea, the effect of your contraceptive pill could be affected. An alternative method of contraception could be right.

Does the contraceptive pill have side effects?

“The main side effects are bloating and chest pain.”Talk to your doctor about less-estrogen-laden pills. The main side effects of progesterone (there are many types) would be mood changes and irritability. If this happens, ask your gynecologist to prescribe a contraceptive that will reduce your mood swings. “See also how food can affect your mood.

What happens if I get pregnant while I take the contraceptive pill?

This happens, “If you get pregnant while you are taking the contraceptive pill, stop taking it and ask your obstetrician to look at the baby after 18 weeks to make sure it is alright”. If you continue taking the contraceptive pill during pregnancy, you will have irregular bleeding every month. “If you think you are pregnant while taking the pill, take a pregnancy test, and visit your doctor.

What are the alternatives to the estrogen-progestogen Contraceptive Pill?

1. Contraceptives without hormones

the tubal ligature or the assure the device for women and couples who no longer wish for children. But it is sterilization and not contraception.
The copper IUD is very effective but has the disadvantage of tending to increase the flow of menstruation and prohibited by women who do not like the idea of having a device in the body.
The condom or spermicide. These are local contraceptives without general risk, but much less effective.

2. Hormonal contraceptives without estrogens

The contraceptive pill containing micro-progestative, containing no estrogens (= hormone causing coagulation disorders), such as Cerazette (Desogestrel 0.075 mg), has never shown an increase in thromboembolic risk. Ask why it is not prescribed more often as a first choice.
The progesterone IUD, as the estroprogestative pill has never shown an increase in thromboembolic risk. It tends to diminish the flow of the rules and even to end the bleeding completely, which is well accepted by the women.

The contraceptive implant, based on higher-dose progesterone, is contraindicated in the case of phlebitis, more as a precaution than a proof of its toxicity. We do not know if it increases the risk.

Pills containing natural estrogen ( Qlaira) are not alternatives since they have the same thromboembolic risk as other pills. In total, it seems to me that the ideal contraception is not yet discovered. In the 21st century, we would like to hear that active research exists in this direction and are ready to succeed. Apart from the novels of science fiction, it is still far away. When is contraception, that is very effective, safe for health, and shared between men and women?

Some rumors on the contraceptive pill

The contraceptive pill is a very safe and effective way of contraception. In this regard, there are some concerns and fears about the people who use it and these side effects. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:

1. Does the contraceptive pill make you sick?

No, in reality, the contraceptive pill now has very low dosages of estrogen compared to the first pills put on the market in the 1950s. This has greatly reduced its harmful effects without affecting its effectiveness. The contraceptive pill has been extensively tested and researched and reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) as safe and effective for most women.

2. Does the contraceptive pill cause sterile?

That is what people are saying, but it does not. The use of the pill does not make the woman sterile. Once a woman stops taking the contraceptive pill, it takes about one or three months before the return of ovulation and regular menstruation. She can get pregnant without problems afterward. This time may be longer or shorter, depending on the woman. However, in the case of delay, it is imperative to consult a doctor to find out what is going on.

3. Does the contraceptive pill cause cancer?

No. There is no conclusive evidence to set up that the pill causes cervical or breast cancer. Research, however, has shown that oral contraceptives protect against ovarian and endometrial cancers. Moreover, before putting a woman under a method of contraception, she should be subjected to a rigorous examination to detect contradictions to prescribe the contraceptive that suits her.

Everything you need to know about the injectable contraceptive

What is an injectable contraceptive?

It is first a modern method for spacing births. As its name indicates, this contraceptive is administered by injection and protects against pregnancy for three months. Thanks to its active principle, it is the most studied contraceptive since the 60s. It is also one of the most effective contraceptives, and, like any other contraceptive, it does not make sterile and allows you to get pregnant only When you want it.

How does it work?

This injectable contraceptive has a synthetic hormone called progesterone that is like that produced by the woman’s body. This hormone prevents ovulation and sperm penetration into the uterus.

This type of contraceptive is mostly:

A safe, effective and discrete method used by more than 12 million women worldwide
A reliable, 99% effective method
Easy to use, only four injections per year (every three months).
Suitable for breastfeeding women (6 weeks after delivery)
Helps prevent certain diseases such as endometrial cancer and fibroid of the uterus

The side effects of this type of contraceptive:

Almost all women have changes in menstrual cycles, but this is not worrying. These are:

Mild unusual bleeding between periods or prolonged cycles early in the use of the method. In most cases, with a continuous contraceptive administration, these effects disappear.
Many women see their periods disappear after the second or third injection. This does not affect the health of the woman, however.
Others may gain weight due to an increase in appetite.
Headaches or mood changes

Sama